Offer discussed in Humboldt Bay harbor commissioner poaching case

The preliminary hearing for Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Commissioner Aaron Newman was rescheduled during a Thursday intervention hearing to allow further discussion of a plea offer relating to Newman's multiple poaching charges.

Newman was arrested on June 8 and pleaded not guilty to 11 criminal charges -- four of which are felony charges -- stemming from allegations that he provided false information to obtain additional harvesting tags for abalone and deer hunting in 2009 and 2012.

Two of the felony charges -- perjury by declaration and offering a false or forged instrument to be filed with a state office -- relate to charges that Newman lied about losing his abalone harvesting permit in order to acquire more tags. Each offense carries a maximum sentence of three to four years in state prison.

Newman's defense attorney, Manny Daskal, had asked Miles in February to dismiss the two felony charges, arguing that the statute of limitations deadline had passed before Newman was arrested.

With Newman requesting a time waiver to discuss the offer, Judge Marilyn Miles scheduled an intervention hearing for May 8 and a preliminary hearing for May 13.